Greenpeace has welcomed the Green Party\u2019s transport policy announced today, but is seeking assurances that the Greens will make clean transport a bottom line in any potential coalition agreement.<\/p>\n\n
The Greens are promising to invest $1.5 billion in cycling, alongside a sizable programme of intercity passenger rail, busways and commuter rail infrastructure. They have pledged to ban the import of new fossil fuel vehicles, most likely by 2030. They will also introduce the \u201cfeebate\u201d scheme and minimum fuel efficiency standards.<\/p>\n\n
Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner, Amanda Larsson, welcomed the announcement, saying:<\/p>\n\n
\u201cTransport is New Zealand\u2019s fastest growing source of carbon emissions, and it\u2019s easy to see why when we\u2019re importing around 60 gas guzzling SUVs and double-cab utes for every electric car.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to see that the Greens will ban the import of new petrol and diesel vehicles, and instead invest significantly in alternatives like cycling, buses, inter-city rail and electric vehicles.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in a climate crisis. The world is literally burning with wildfires raging in California less than a year after the Australian bushfires covered New Zealand in an apocalyptic red haze. We urgently need to stop pumping carbon into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cMaking it easy for people to ride a bike locally or get a train between cities is key to cutting our carbon pollution, improving mobility and improving health. We need accessible, convenient and affordable transport options so that people don\u2019t have to rely on cars to get to work or school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
While Greenpeace has applauded the policy, Larsson says they still need convincing that the Green Party\u2019s ambitious wishlist of transport initiatives will translate into action, should the Greens form part of the next Government.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cThe Green Party needs to assure New Zealanders that they will make climate change and clean transport a bottom line in negotiating any potential coalition agreement.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cThis term we\u2019ve seen a number of strong Green Party policies go off the rails, notably the promised electric vehicle \u2018feebate\u2019, which is now back on the table. Climate change doesn\u2019t negotiate. We need political leaders that will stand firm in their commitment to safeguard the natural world that we all depend on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
Greenpeace is calling on all political parties to commit to using the Covid-19 recovery as a springboard from which to build back better and address the worsening climate and environmental crises.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cAs we invest in creating jobs to address the impacts of the pandemic, we have a unique opportunity to build back better,\u201d says Larsson.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cWith billions of dollars of Covid Recovery funds on the table, there couldn\u2019t be a better time to build modern, accessible and convenient low-carbon transport infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cToday\u2019s young people will need to deal with the debt from our economic response to Covid-19. We must build back in ways that create a more secure and resilient future for our children.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
ENDS<\/p>\n\n
CONTACT<\/p>\n\n
Amanda Larsson, Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner: 021-722-794<\/p>\n
Greenpeace has welcomed the Green Party\u2019s transport policy announced today, but is seeking assurances that the Greens will make clean transport a bottom line in any potential coalition agreement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8556,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_planet4_optimize_post_is_variant":false,"_planet4_optimize_experiment_name":"","_planet4_optimize_variant_name":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"Greenpeace welcomes Greens\u2019 transport policy, calls for climate to be bottom line,","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"not set","p4_local_project":"not set","p4_basket_name":"not set","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[16,51,52],"p4-page-type":[7],"class_list":["post-14723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-greenpeace","tag-climate","tag-politics","tag-build-back-better","p4-page-type-press-release"],"yoast_head":"\n